Totto Ramen – The best ramen in all of NYC?

Ok I will admit it, I am currently addicted to all things ramen! Before moving to New York City, the only ramen I had ever had was Top Ramen and Oodles of Noodles from grocery stores for about 10 cents a pop. These were a college staple, and I’m not going to pretend I never eat them anymore, but I have discovered the incredible world of real Japanese restaurant ramen noodle soups, and I just can’t get enough! A few months ago I decided to google “best ramen nyc” and Totto Ramen came up all over the place. I resolved to check this place out (this was of course pre-blog days).

My cousin and I went on a steamy summer evening, which in retrospect was probably not the best idea because we were already sweating by the time we got in there. It was not really hot soup eating weather! When we arrived at around 6pm there was already quite a line, and we were told it would be about an hour. I tried to get a peak inside the restaurant, and it was tiny! It probably sat about 25 max. We anxiously awaited for our names to come up, and when they did we were quickly escorted to the kitchen bar seats. This was perfect for me because I could see everything that was going on in the kitchen, but on the negative side was also very hot. Just to warn you, Totto Ramen is cash only so make sure you are prepared! The prices are very reasonable and the menu is fairly small so no need to go crazy here. We glanced at the menu, and I ordered the Totto Chicken Paitan Ramen (chicken and soy sauce soup, topped with scallion, onion, char sui pork, and nori), and my cousin had the Totto Spicy Ramen (same as mine but with Rayu – a spicy sesame oil). The soups come with a base of noodles and a broth, and then you can pick toppings like char sui chicken, seasoned boiled egg, kikurage mushroom, etc. I added seasoned avocado, egg, mushrooms, and seaweed to mine.

The soup was amazing! The flavors were so rich, and the ramen was even al dente which I really did not expect. It was a huge bowl and very filling as well. The fatty pork just melted in your mouth, and the avocado was creamy and unexpected in a soup. Even the boiled egg, which I was wary about, fit quite seamlessly in the warm bowl of salty goodness.

I definitely want to go again, I think the experience of going in the winter will be much more rewarding!

One Response to "Totto Ramen – The best ramen in all of NYC?"

[...] so I decided to check out Ippudo. I had heard and read lots about Ippudo, it was up there with Totto Ramen in the ramen noodle soup aficionado world, and it was a cold wintery day so what could be better [...]

Rating System

♥ - Don't waste your money or tastebuds on this one
♥ ♥ - If this was the only place open, I guess you could go
♥ ♥ ♥ - Average, nothing great, but just ok
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ - Very good, a strong recommendation
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ - Absolutely amazing, a must go, I highly recommend it!